Translate

Translate

Translate

Senin, 23 Desember 2013

Greetings on Merry Christmas, a note for Muslims in Indonesia

Currently my friends in Indonesia are
discussing the Islamic decree (Fatwa)
of the Indonesian Ulama Council ( MUI ) on pronunciation of Merry
Christmas to Christians . I , am a
Christian who works with fellow Indonesian citizens , women , youth , children ,
those from all walk of everyday life . My happiness is to share knowledge and deepening of
everyday human life in various places where I have
been to people around. I write about
the life of people who encounter their life,
in storytelling through oral and written speech.

I live the life of
the people I have met to understand the journey of their life upheaval .
I am
amazed to find the strength that flows out in view ourselves every single human
beings . Strength is
like a breath , people rooting in the breath
with the Creator . I am also touched by
the encounter , any companions appear to bring the faith to turn the sincerity
of friendship and human community nurtured daily .

MUI fatwa related to pronunciation
ban Merry Christmas was released in 1984 . At that time the Chairman of the MUI
was Buya Hamka . Prior to 1984, there was no
prohibition pronunciation Merry Christmas . As religious people , religious
institutions such as the explanation of the MUI receives
in respect for giving guidance to the Muslims . Why the1984 Fatwa
emerging is determined by various factors, including the depth of faith that
needs to be known by the people about the teachings of Islam itself ? At Christmas in 2012,
I was invited to celebrate together with congregation of Javanese Christian
Church (GKJ) in Kulon Progo. I was deeply moved when the Secretary of
Regent, a Muslim attending the Christmas celebration that was carried out in
the church. As a Muslim, her own faith is rooted in the Koran becomes
essentially to reflect the Islamic understanding of Jesus Christ whom is called
Isa Al-Masih. Her decomposition of the Koran was done very deeply, so I felt
that moment actually, Christmas was being celebrated by both Christians and
Muslims in addition to government officials attended by public figures.

The celebration
was wonderful,
touching a deep conscience of every human being. Since both Christians and
Muslims actually reflect on the sanctity of the birth of the baby Jesus Christ that
inspirestheir community to also live in purity and
sincerity as a holy baby. The depth of faith is not a barrier to understand
each other, even as a way to strengthen each other, even bring atonement to
them. Family, neighbors, villages and entire districts can live in harmony.

Differences of Islam and
Christianity and Judaism are described in the Qur'an ( see Adeney - Risakotta ,
2009) . Muslims believe that the miracle of
God revealesin
His Word revelation in the Koran . Through the prophet Muhammad , Muslims believe , God's
salvation to human beings
can be fulfilled . Prophet
Muhammad is believed by Muslims as the last prophet . While in Christianity ,
the Bible does not mention derived of prophet Muhamaad
SAW, because the revelation of Bible occurs first of the Qur'an , but the Muslim
interpretate the coming of prophet as written in the Bible.
Christians believe
that miracle is Jesus Christ , the sanctity exceeds the first man,
Adam by whom God's salvation was fulfilled as seen through the
Hebrew Bible . Christ’s holyness
causes miracles happen and the greatest miracle of God to this world is to give
Jesus Christ , was born , serving man , died and rose again to bring salvation
to humankind .

When Christians celebrate Christmas
, Christians celebrate the coming of God's peace in the world through the birth
of Jesus Christ . Immanuel means God
with us , God who became a personto live like ordinary people and
lived in a way that introduces people back to God 's ways
. The Bible
describes the birth of Jesus Christ in an animal cage , when Mary and her fiance, Joseph on their way
to participate in the census in Egypt .

Depiction of Jesus who
is far from the splendor also written in the Book of Maryam in the Qur'an. Jesus
was born of a woman chosen by God, holy woman whose name became one of the
books in the Qur'an, Maryam. Both Scripture describes the birth of Jesus Christ,
who was born beyond the normal way human beings, an abnormal birth that shows
the wonders of God's omnipotence and power to give life to Him to bring peace in
the world.

To understand more on the Word of God in
Bible and Koran, I would like to link to my another article titled “Christmas:
Comparison of the Word in the Bible and the Koran to the analysis of
conspiracy Adventists in the United States?”.

Prohibition MUI Fatwa is based on the revelation of
the Quran that
recognizes Jesus Christ as prophet not as God . Prohibition issued by
MUI Fatwa is to preserve the faith of Muslims so as not to conflict
with the teachings of Islam. Although , the revelation of the Koran decreases
very similar to the Bible's revelation of the birth of baby
Jesus the Messiah who was born of a virgin named Mary and whose life is holy on
earth as shown on so much work miracles Jesus did.

So now if Muslim friends
congratulate Christmas to their fellows sisters and
brohters, I think the decision was already made ​​with a very deep
sense , rooted in Islam itself . Through Islam , God reveals
His love to humankind to love , respect and strengthen the path of
Allah . Thus, giving the greetings of Merry
Christmas to Christians , in my opinion , the Muslims will not reduce the
slightest faith in God as taught in Islam . Saying Merry Christmas to fellow
citizens in Indonesia , they are mostly Christian , I think the same as
Indonesia receive religious pluralism , including Christianity that as
to be part of the mosaic beauty of God's creation as related in the Koran. Happiness of humankind is
religious living together
in harmony to practice the teachings of Allah revealed in the miracles
that God has given to human beings.

Like all Christians , celebrate
Christmas reminds us of the holiness and humanity of Jesus Christ who accepts to live in order
to get as much human suffering and the wisdom of God's help come to the salvation
. Joy in
Christmas celebrations often then equated with events that stop human
debauchery at the point of pleasure without responsibility to others in need.
Christmas celebration is to bring back the miracle working God who heals
people, both within the family, society and the state to establish justice and
peace so that everyone gets a chance to experience the true joy that is on his
faith in God. Merry Christmas
2013 and New Year 2014.